The Historical Geography Research Group of the RGS-IBG seeks to support the organisation of conferences dedicated to the advancement of historical geography and the profile and careers of postgraduate and early-career historical geographers. Support will take the form of a grant of up to £1,500 as well as such organisational and marketing assistance as can be afforded by HGRG’s committee. It is anticipated that one such grant will be awarded biennially.

The deadlines for receipt of grant applications are 1 April, 1 August, and 1 December in any one year.

Notification of response

Applicants should normally expect to hear the outcome of their bid within one calendar month.

Award procedure

Once the Group’s Secretary has received confirmation that the applicant can comply with the regulations, the grant will be sent to the applicant by the Group’s Treasurer.

Deadline for reports

A financial statement regarding use of awarded funds should be sent to the Group’s Treasurer by 1 September.

A conference report of 300 words for the HGRG newsletter should be sent to the Newsletter Editor by 1 June, 1 October, or 1 February depending on which falls first after the conference has taken place.

In addition. the committee encourages all those who receive conference funding from HGRG to consider the HGRG Research Series as a possible publication outlet for conference material. The Editor of the research series welcomes enquiries in this respect.

Applicants in any doubt about their eligibility or any other aspect of their application are advised to contact the HGRG Chair or Secretary who will be pleased to help.

HGRG funding policy for conferences and seminar programmes is based upon the aims of the group as stated in the HGRG Strategic Plan (1993–1996).

1. to initiate and foster research in the field of historical geography; to promote discussion by means of meetings and conferences; to further co-operation between cognate disciplines and organisations: and to effect publication of monographs, collected papers and discussion materials.

2.3.5 The HGRG will provide contributions to financial support for conference organisation and for attendance by its members at such gatherings. It will do so through a mix of direct grant-in-aid paid directly to conference organisers and for postgraduates to attend conferences, and loans for organisational or other conference-related purposes.

2.4.2 HGRG will seek to provide opportunities for postgraduate students through support for conference attendance and through organising conferences and other gatherings in which postgraduate students will be the principal participants and beneficiaries.

Agreed funding priorities have been identified in accordance with this plan. These are:

prioritising funds to aid postgraduates

prioritising meetings which are open to all members of HGRG

to offer support to members without access to financial support

to promote work of high academic standard across all parts of the sub-discipline.

It is unlikely that HGRG funds will be made available for supporting commercially published works, or closed seminar programmes. In addition it is the intention of the group to contribute to rather than solely meet conference costs.

Postgraduate Support Scheme

Postgraduates may apply to HGRG for support for travel to research sources or conferences up to a maximum of £100.

Priority may be given to those whose grants do not include provision for conference fees or travel.

Funding regulations

those applying for financial support are HGRG members;

that alternative sources of funding should be investigated;

those who have received HGRG support are not eligible to make further applications;

The deadlines for receipt of grant applications are 1 April, 1 August, and 1 December in any one year.

Notification of response

Applicants should normally expect to hear the outcome of their bid within four weeks of submission.

Award procedure

Once the Secretary has received confirmation that the applicant can comply with the regulations, the grant will be sent to the applicant by the Treasurer.

Deadline for reports

A financial statement regarding use of awarded funds should be sent to the Treasurer by 1 September.

A report of 300 words should be sent to the Newsletter Editor by 1 June, 1 October, or 1 February depending on which falls first after the conference has taken place or research been completed.

Applicants in any doubt about their eligibility or any other aspect of their application are advised to contact the HGRG Chair or Secretary who will be pleased to help.

RGS-IBG Research and Higher Education Division Research Group Research Grants

The RGS-IBG Research and Higher Education Division has limited funds available specifically to support research activity by Research Groups. HGRG policy with regard to this scheme, prioritised as follows, is:

to apply for annual support for our yearly undergraduate and postgraduate conference;

to continue to apply every three years for support for postgraduate attendance at the International Conference of Historical Geographers;

to co-ordinate other applications for RGS-IBG funding that are submitted to the committee.

While we are already committed to submitting two regular funding applications, we welcome (under 3 above) additional requests for funding from members or suggestions about other research activities which could benefit from this scheme. Since funds are limited it is unlikely that HGRG will be able to submit any more than three separate bids in any one year.

To ensure democratic access to funding sources and benefits, requests made to HGRG to support a funding application to the Research and Higher Education Division Committee should:

meet our usual Conference and Seminar Programme Funding Regulations

follow the format of normal applications for HGRG funding

These requests or recommendations should be sent to the Group’s Secretary by 1 September in any one year. For further information and detailed guidelines for applying for HGRG funding, please contact the HGRG Chair or Secretary who will be pleased to help.